Gastrointestinal perforation: early diagnosis by computed tomography.

Five cases of gastrointestinal perforation are presented in which computed tomography (CT) successfully demonstrated the abnormalities directly related to the perforation. In all cases, CT played a significant role in establishing a correct diagnosis, and in four cases permitted precise localization which facilitated the surgical approach. We believe that in cases where conventional radiographic examinations are not diagnostic, CT is particularly valuable because of its superior ability to depict anatomic abnormalities in the mesentery and surrounding tissue planes to suggest bowel perforation.